Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are legal documents guaranteeing health and/or financial decisions can be made on your behalf by people you trust.
There are two kinds of LPA:
Health and care decisions
Financial decisions
You can choose family members, friends or professionals to be your attorneys. Once the LPA is in place, your attorneys can make decisions on your behalf.
Q: Why would I need an LPA?
A: If you lose your mental capacity, an LPA will legally allow your appointed attorneys to make decisions on your behalf. You need confirmed mental capacity to make an LPA.
Q: What is mental capacity?
A: It is the ability to make a specific decision at a specific time.
Q: What are “people to notify”?
A: You may wish to appoint a person to be notified when your attorneys wish to register the LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian and again when you use your LPA. The person to notify must know you well, as they have the right to object to the registration if they feel your attorneys are not acting in your best interests. A person to be notified cannot also be an attorney.
Q: What financial decisions can be made by my attorneys?
A: These could include:
Running your bank and savings accounts
Making or selling investments
Paying your bills
Buying or selling your home and other assets
Q: What health and care decisions can be made by my attorneys?
A: For example:
What medical treatment you receive, such as life-sustaining treatment
Where you live
Day-to-day matters such as your diet, dress, or daily routine